The Lakers did their due diligence in free agency this summer where Dwight Howard was concerned, getting the last word in their formal pitch after the coveted big man had met with other teams.

In the end, Howard chose to sign with the Houston Rockets — a decision that many felt was a foregone conclusion even before free agency officially began.

Howard endured a tumultuous season in Los Angeles, playing through health issues while he and the team remained highly scrutinized over their collective failure to dominate the competition as was widely expected. The fact that he chose not to return was understandable, as it was clear he didn’t enjoy his one year in Los Angeles playing under such a large spotlight.

Jim insists he’s just following his father’s blueprint, but the Howard situation suggests he missed a page. Instead of Jim spending time with Howard, the team launched a widely derided media campaign that implored “Stay” on billboards. After Howard bolted, Jim turned on his former star, saying he wasn’t surprised or dismayed. “He was never really a Laker,” says Jim. “He was just passing through.”

Historically, All-Star caliber players have welcomed the opportunity to team with others at their level, as Howard did with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Steve Nash. That wasn’t necessarily true, however, in Howard’s case.

He clashed with Bryant over perceived work ethic and dedication to winning, pushed back against the coaching staff wanting to use him in more pick and roll situations, and consistently showed up his teammates defensively when he believed an assignment or a rotation was missed.

Howard never seemed happy in a Lakers uniform, and never seemed all that likely to re-up with them by signing a max contract this summer. The comments from Buss may seem as though they were intended as some kind of slight against Howard, and the fact that he never truly committed to the Lakers organization.

I don’t remember playing tonight. I didn’t play. Guys get a lot of money to be ready to play. No Knute Rockne speeches. It’s your job. If you’re a plumber and you don’t do your job, you don’t get any work. I don’t think a plumber needs a pep talk. If a doctor botches operations, he’s not a doctor anymore. If you’re a basketball player, you come ready. It’s called maturity. It’s your job.

Like it or not, motivation is part of an NBA coach’s job.

But that’s also precisely what Popovich is doing.

His credentials dwarf any other coach’s. He can play to his own ego and absolve himself of responsibility – and players will seek to please him. His years of success have earned him the ability to motivate this way, a method no other coach could use without alienating his team.

So, why not hold Motiejunas to what became a four-year, $31 million offer sheet once matched? Houston got something in return – a later trigger date on guaranteeing Motiejunas’ 2017-18 salary. Originally, that decision had to be made March 1 – which would’ve meant dropping Motiejunas from the team this season to prevent his salary from counting next season. Now, the Rockets can make that call in July, after this season is complete.

The following two Julys, Houston will also have a choice on guaranteeing Motiejunas’ upcoming salary or dropping him.

Essentially, Motiejunas is signing the most lucrative Hinkie Special in NBA history. If he plays well and stays healthy, the Rockets have Motiejunas at an affordable rate. If he struggles or his back injuries flare up, they can drop him with little to no penalty.

After they backed themselves into this corner, Motiejunas and his agent, B.J. Armstrong, didn’t do so bad. Considering the similarity between this contract and the Nets’ original offer sheet, it seems Houston helped Armstrong save face after a bungled free agency (which is easier to accept when you’re adding a talented reserve to a formidable team).

But for how little is guaranteed and how much control the Rockets hold over the next four years, wouldn’t Motiejunas have been better off accepting the $4,433,683 qualifying offer?

This means Motiejunas can’t sign with the Nets, who signed him to the original offer sheet, for one year.

I bet it also means Motiejunas and Houston have agreed to a new contract. Otherwise, why release him from the offer sheet? The Rockets would be giving up a tremendous amount of leverage out of the goodness of their hearts – unless this is just a prelude to a new deal with Houston.